Poetry Forms, Descriptions, and Helpful Hints
Acrostic Poem
An acrostic poem uses the letters of a topic word to begin each line of the poem. The entire poem should relate to or describe the topic. This website will help you create an acrostic poem you can print.
Examples
Bio-Poem
The class wants to get to know you better! This is your opportunity to write your autobiography in the form of a poem. You were given a form in class to use as a guide to write our poem.
Examples
Concrete Poem
Concrete poems are poems that are written in the shape of the poem topic. For example, a poem about a snowman is written as a snowman. Concrete poems are best written by using drawing paper and a black marker. Trace the shape of your poem on white drawing paper and then go over it with black marker. Place a clean sheet of paper on top of your drawing and write your poem following the shape. This allows you to have a neat, clean shape without the messy marker.
Examples: Lollipop Rainbow Star
Free Verse Poem
Free verse is pretty much just as it sounds. It is free of rules. You get to be creative with no limitations. It can rhyme, or not. It can be aligned however you see fit. The subject is up to you. Punctuation??? Capitalization??? Fugedaboudit!
Examples
Limerick
A limerick is a funny little poem that has 5 lines. Lines 1,2 & 5 are longer lines in which the final word of the lines rhyme. Lines 3 & 4 are shorter lines that should have the last word of the lines forming a second rhyme.
Examples
Haiku
Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. Haiku poems consist of 3 lines. The syllable pattern of a Haiku is 5, 7, 5. Since a Haiku poet only has 3 lines and 17 syllables to work with, Haiku poems are usually written about one simple thing. Many times the poems are based on nature. This website can give more information if needed.
Examples
Diamente
A Diamante is a form of poetry that follows a recipe and is shaped like a diamond. The first line and last line are antonyms. The lines in between bridge the two topics together. Here is an explanation on how to write a diamante poem.
Examples: Sun/Moon Strong/Weak
Cinquain
A cinquain is a five line poem about one topic. The first line is one word, second line is two words, third line is three words, fourth line is four words, and the fifth line is one word.
Examples: Bubbles Student examples Other Examples
People Poems
People poetry is another recipe for writing poetry. It is about a particular person in your life.
Terse Verse
Terse Verse is really just a fancy poetry name for a riddle. However, there is something special about Terse Verse riddles. The answer to these riddles must have two rhyming words that are the same number of syllables.
Other Examples
Terse Verse Examples
Other Resources
Check out some of these awesome tools that will help you in writing your poems! Don't forget that you will also need to include your glossary page in your portfolio. See the evaluation section to find the requirements.
A rhyming dictionary
Poetry Glossary
Parts of Speech Help
An acrostic poem uses the letters of a topic word to begin each line of the poem. The entire poem should relate to or describe the topic. This website will help you create an acrostic poem you can print.
Examples
Bio-Poem
The class wants to get to know you better! This is your opportunity to write your autobiography in the form of a poem. You were given a form in class to use as a guide to write our poem.
Examples
Concrete Poem
Concrete poems are poems that are written in the shape of the poem topic. For example, a poem about a snowman is written as a snowman. Concrete poems are best written by using drawing paper and a black marker. Trace the shape of your poem on white drawing paper and then go over it with black marker. Place a clean sheet of paper on top of your drawing and write your poem following the shape. This allows you to have a neat, clean shape without the messy marker.
Examples: Lollipop Rainbow Star
Free Verse Poem
Free verse is pretty much just as it sounds. It is free of rules. You get to be creative with no limitations. It can rhyme, or not. It can be aligned however you see fit. The subject is up to you. Punctuation??? Capitalization??? Fugedaboudit!
Examples
Limerick
A limerick is a funny little poem that has 5 lines. Lines 1,2 & 5 are longer lines in which the final word of the lines rhyme. Lines 3 & 4 are shorter lines that should have the last word of the lines forming a second rhyme.
Examples
Haiku
Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. Haiku poems consist of 3 lines. The syllable pattern of a Haiku is 5, 7, 5. Since a Haiku poet only has 3 lines and 17 syllables to work with, Haiku poems are usually written about one simple thing. Many times the poems are based on nature. This website can give more information if needed.
Examples
Diamente
A Diamante is a form of poetry that follows a recipe and is shaped like a diamond. The first line and last line are antonyms. The lines in between bridge the two topics together. Here is an explanation on how to write a diamante poem.
Examples: Sun/Moon Strong/Weak
Cinquain
A cinquain is a five line poem about one topic. The first line is one word, second line is two words, third line is three words, fourth line is four words, and the fifth line is one word.
Examples: Bubbles Student examples Other Examples
People Poems
People poetry is another recipe for writing poetry. It is about a particular person in your life.
Terse Verse
Terse Verse is really just a fancy poetry name for a riddle. However, there is something special about Terse Verse riddles. The answer to these riddles must have two rhyming words that are the same number of syllables.
Other Examples
Terse Verse Examples
Other Resources
Check out some of these awesome tools that will help you in writing your poems! Don't forget that you will also need to include your glossary page in your portfolio. See the evaluation section to find the requirements.
A rhyming dictionary
Poetry Glossary
Parts of Speech Help